My Klipsch Heresy IVs were made in Hope, Arkansas. That is around 150 miles from me.
-
Welcome to ASR. There are many reviews of audio hardware and expert members to help answer your questions. Click here to have your audio equipment measured for free!
Do you care where your speakers are manufactured?
- Thread starter sigbergaudio
- Start date
- Status
restorer-john
Grand Contributor
Klipsch's are so loud you can probably hear them being factory tested even 150 miles away.
I prefer to judge the quality of a product in its own merits and don’t find location of manufacture a reliable shorthand to prejudice that judgement. I have speakers and devices made in a wide variety of countries.
jayapple
Active Member
- Joined
- Feb 21, 2022
- Messages
- 167
- Likes
- 93
Now in China, not only speakers, basically all audio products are domestic, and some big European brands have even been acquired by Chinese consortia, but the publicity is still taking European brands.
But European imports are really more expensive, because of the additional tariffs, I don't think there will be a big difference, especially for products that consumers can afford. Those top products may need some gimmicks, but ordinary people can't afford them.
In addition, audio is only a small category, bulk products such as cars, are basically produced in China and sold to Europe, which is why Germans strongly oppose the EU's tariffs on Chinese products.
But European imports are really more expensive, because of the additional tariffs, I don't think there will be a big difference, especially for products that consumers can afford. Those top products may need some gimmicks, but ordinary people can't afford them.
In addition, audio is only a small category, bulk products such as cars, are basically produced in China and sold to Europe, which is why Germans strongly oppose the EU's tariffs on Chinese products.
Waxx
Major Contributor
Quality of the device is the most important factor by far for me. But yes, i prefer local produced over imported gear from countries that don't respect the basic about human rights or ecologic care. But the reality is that my budget is limited so....
And to be honest, i don't buy speakers, I build them myself, for myself and sometimes also for others. The only ready made spekaers i have are british and from the 1970's...
And to be honest, i don't buy speakers, I build them myself, for myself and sometimes also for others. The only ready made spekaers i have are british and from the 1970's...
holdingpants01
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2023
- Messages
- 1,063
- Likes
- 1,775
Barefoot Sound, Ex Machina Soundworks, Meyer Sound, Danley Soundlabs, Ocean Way Audio and probably many more
OP
- Thread Starter
- #69
Yes, then you are out of scope of my query. As I tried to clarify in my initial post, my question wasn't really about Asian manufacturers (and I am not trying to imply anything negative about them, I have both Topping and Eversolo myself), but rather EU/US manufacturers outsourcing to Asia.
Most of the big audiophile brands like Wilson, Magico, Soundlabs, and Klipsch Heritage, and tons of boutique brands make speakers here with US and imported drivers.
There are still a handful of electronics manufacturers here. In addition to McIntosh, Mark Levinson is still built in the USA as are the several legacy audiophile brands that Morris Kessler (ATI) has picked up like B&K, BGW, Theta, DataSat, and even SAE is still active I believe.
Haskil
Addicted to Fun and Learning
Something tells me that given the significant differences in living standards in Europe between the different EU countries: it must be possible to find a cheaper manufacturer of loudspeaker boxes, delivered to your home... than from China ...several countries have leading carpentry and cabinetmaking workshops...Yes, and this is an interesting discussion to follow and potentially gain some insights into future product decisions.For now I am trying to keep it European based. It comes with benefits as well with regards to easier collaboration and partnership with vendors closer to home. But it is a complicated picture already.
For a Manta system with subs for instance:
Design, research & development, assembly and QA is done in Norway.
Loudspeaker drivers are made in Italy
Subwoofer drivers are made in Denmark
Amplifiers are made by Hypex, which is from Holland, but they are actually manufactured in a Hypex owned plant in Malaysia.
The custom stands are made in Norway
Cabinets for both speakers and subs are made in Estland
holdingpants01
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2023
- Messages
- 1,063
- Likes
- 1,775
but he literally said they are made in Estland (Estonia), European Union
Haskil
Addicted to Fun and Learning
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2019
- Messages
- 559
- Likes
- 989
Might as well ask if I care where a particular transistor is manufactured, or where my TV is manufactured, or where my shirt is manufactured. Or where a beer is brewed. Or the city a professional sports team calls home.
Count Arthur
Major Contributor
- Joined
- Jan 10, 2020
- Messages
- 2,952
- Likes
- 7,447
My thoughts.
1. I believe it's possible to make quality products anywhere in the world, provided the tools, equipment, infrastructure, facilities and training are adequate.
2. I think it's preferable to keep keep manufacturing closer the prospective market for those products as it's likely better for the environment when things aren't shipped half way around the globe. It also provides jobs, which in turn pays people that will be potential customers; a virtuous circle that Henry Ford understood, many of his customers were also his employees.
3. I have less issues with products being manufactured in lower cost regions, when the savings are passed on to the consumer. However, too often, these savings are not passed on to the consumer. Apple and Dyson products didn't get any cheaper when they moved production to S.E. Asia, nor did cars get cheaper in the US when they moved much of the production to Mexico; the savings were used purely for increased profit.
@AdamG - delete if too political.
1. I believe it's possible to make quality products anywhere in the world, provided the tools, equipment, infrastructure, facilities and training are adequate.
2. I think it's preferable to keep keep manufacturing closer the prospective market for those products as it's likely better for the environment when things aren't shipped half way around the globe. It also provides jobs, which in turn pays people that will be potential customers; a virtuous circle that Henry Ford understood, many of his customers were also his employees.
3. I have less issues with products being manufactured in lower cost regions, when the savings are passed on to the consumer. However, too often, these savings are not passed on to the consumer. Apple and Dyson products didn't get any cheaper when they moved production to S.E. Asia, nor did cars get cheaper in the US when they moved much of the production to Mexico; the savings were used purely for increased profit.
@AdamG - delete if too political.
That's like saying people in so called non democratic country's do not deserve the right to grow up economically because they do not meet the standards of so called pay to play "democratic" country's who are the gold standard.
Very good summary would add that product quality and performance is a goal over profit margin and value is added by being a good corporate citizen.My thoughts.
1. I believe it's possible to make quality products anywhere in the world, provided the tools, equipment, infrastructure, facilities and training are adequate.
2. I think it's preferable to keep keep manufacturing closer the prospective market for those products as it's likely better for the environment when things aren't shipped half way around the globe. It also provides jobs, which in turn pays people that will be potential customers; a virtuous circle that Henry Ford understood, many of his customers were also his employees.
3. I have less issues with products being manufactured in lower cost regions, when the savings are passed on to the consumer. However, too often, these savings are not passed on to the consumer. Apple and Dyson products didn't get any cheaper when they moved production to S.E. Asia, nor did cars get cheaper in the US when they moved much of the production to Mexico; the savings were used purely for increased profit.
@AdamG - delete if too political.
IMO to many things are judged by how much money they make and not how well they work or how long they last. Craftsmanship is a dying art
OT: The Tesla Model 3 sold in Europe are built in China and have better paint and assembly than those built in the United States.
OP
- Thread Starter
- #80
Yes, so we have chosen Estonia. A European country that is not among the most expensive, with a long history of woodworking and carpentry excellency. But high quality cabinets with high quality finish (wood veneer and/or paint) is still expensive.
But in my opinion worth it for many of the reasons listed in this thread. Local manufacturing / short shipping distances, high quality on both materials and workmanship, MDF manufactured after strict emissions standards ensuring that the customer receives a product with no harmful chemical substances, etc.
- Status
Similar threads
